Published on 02/12/2024
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi called for end of protests led by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane turned violent leaving destruction in their wake.
Nyusi condemned the loss of lives and damage to public and private property, calling for unity and peace. He appealed to protesters to embrace dialogue over discord. “Violence cannot build the future we envision,” he warned.
“We’re going to stop the destruction, and we’re going to have a burden on our conscience for what we should have allowed to evolve and didn’t because there are countries that no longer have any way out because they’ve plunged into confusion and it’s all death, destruction and looting,” said the president during the inauguration of a National Social Security Institute(INSS) infrastructure in the southern province of Gaza.
“It doesn’t look good for people to be dying because they were attacked by the Defence and Security Forces or the other way around, but I believe that you must do your part. If everyone does just a little of what we can do, this will stop,” added the head of the Mozambican state.
Nyusi said that Mozambicans need a “cool head” to resolve the post-election tension, asking them to look at the country “with affection” and pointing out that it is “envied” because of its resources.
“If this country were nothing, nobody would worry, nobody would sow corn on the cob, nobody. It won’t sprout. Since it’s fertile land, you young people must do your bit,” declared the Mozambican President, asking citizens to focus on the country’s development.
“I entered Gaza without many schools, hospitals, water, energy, and roads. I think people forget quickly, but time is responsible for bringing justice to all Mozambicans who work for it and Gaza is one of the provinces that does so much for it,” concluded Filipe Nyusi.
At least six people were injured, including a young woman run over by soldiers, during clashes between demonstrators and police on Wednesday, in protests called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, Maputo Central Hospital announced.
The Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique (FADM) said on Wednesday that they had run over a young woman in the Mozambican capital, explaining that the vehicle was “on a mission to protect economic objects” from demonstrators and that the victim had been rescued.
At least three people were killed and another five injured by gunfire on Wednesday in Mozambique during demonstrations to contest the election results, Mozambican non-governmental organisation (NGO) Plataforma Eleitoral Decide said.
Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane had called on the Mozambican population on Tuesday to leave their cars in the streets from 8a.m. for three days, starting on Wednesday, with election protest posters until they return from work.
Venâncio Mondlane has been calling for these demonstrations, which have degenerated into clashes with the police and which have resulted in around 70 deaths and more than 200 injuries, as a way of contesting the award of victory to Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power), with 70.67% of the vote, according to the results announced on 24 October by National Electoral Commission (CNE), which have yet to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.
